[1vuio0pswjnm7]

Notice how HN replies have no explanations for why Google now requires JS, after not requiring it for 27+ years and when other search engines today don't require it

I stopped using Google Web search as well after this point

NB. The autocomplete endpoint at clients1.google.com for example does not require Javascript, nor HTTPS

One could take the Google suggestions and search those strings in other search engines. Would the search results differ

Google Web search might be useful for finding "popular" results as these are the only results Google LLC management wants to show its ad targets, so-called "users", because funneling ad targets to the same sites ultimately creates larger audiences for advertising and more spend from advertisers

But if one is searching for "unpopular" results, e.g., performing "discovery", then using Google Web search is, IME, certainly not the best method of searching

IME, quitting Google leads to more creative search strategies; I have found stuff that I never would have discovered using Google Web search

NB. Google Web search requires Javascript. Scholar search, News search, etc. do not

An HN favourite:

https://www.wheresyoured.at/the-men-who-killed-google/

https://www.wheresyoured.at/in-response-to-google/

[Grombobulous]

Conversely, little explanation is given as to why a JavaScript requirement negatively impacts users.

I’ve stopped using Google search as well but JavaScript is the least of their sins.

It’s completely reasonable for a website to require/leverage a technology that literally 100% of their customers have.

[userbinator]

Just going to copy the dead sibling comment because it says the truth:

"Allowing javascript can create security vulnerabilities (e.g. in the case of infected ads), and it is used for browser fingerprinting, so that users can be tracked and ad targeted across sites (especially if the information is sold, as part of a database, to third parties who combine it with other databases) even when they deny cookie and local storage permissions and aren't logged in to a google account and are using a vpn or proxy. If you go to one of those "how unique is my browser" test websites, if you have javascript blocked, they have comparatively almost nothing to go off.

It also always loads slower and uses more data and ram than plain HTML, and unfortunately many people in rural areas still have shitty internet service and/or old hardware. And it's rubbish if you just want to browse the internet on something like an ereader or an old laptop.

Unless you specifically need features that aren't possible without it, it's a worse experience, and Google is choosing to make it mandatory for the whole site instead of just for the specific features that need it because it's good for their ad revenue. It's a means for Google to track and sell the data of users who are trying to opt out and preserve their privacy.

I haven't found a single other search engine that does this. I'm pretty sure even Bing doesn't (although they do their "log in for reward points" thing instead)."

[1vuio0pswjnm7]

Why is a "Disable Javascript" option provided in every so-called "modern" browser

Why would a user prefer in some cases not to use Javascript from an adtech company

Depends on the user. For example, here's one user who publishes a website on the subject

https://disable-javascript.org/

Consider the level of data collection and behavioral surveillance enabled by the SearchGuard Javascript at issue in Google LLC v SerpApi LLC, as described here:

https://searchengineland.com/inside-google-searchguard-46767...

Google LLC is an adtech company

Google LLC may claim that this Javascript is an access control to protect material copyrighted by others

But the court in Google v SerpApi has found that to be false, with the possible exception of "Knowledge Panel" material. The court found that Google LLC is not authorized to protect the returned URLs in a SERP as copyrighted material

If the purpose of this Javascript is not access control for copyright protection then what is its purpose

Can the user control this Javascript. No, it's under the control of Google LLC

Can the user control how the data collected by GoogleLLC via SearchGuard or other Javascripts is used or where it may be sent. No

Mitigation may require disabling Javascript

https://captaincompliance.com/education/tracking-technologie...

https://medium.com/@Kevin_Finnerty_Gabagool/adtech-the-silen...

https://arxiv.org/html/2508.07454v2

https://adguard.com/en/blog/weblock-location-tracking-survei...

Many of these tactics, including Real-Time Bidding (see AdGguard blog post), as implemented by adtech companies such as Google, require Javascript

It is reasonable that a user might prefer to avoid running Javascript from adtech companies, such as Google LLC

Some of us have been searching the www since before Javascript existed

Using others' Javascript is a choice the user gets to make. Adtech commpany Javascript for web search should be optional. Costs may outweigh benefits. Depends on the user

[1vuio0pswjnm7]

*AdGuard

*company